Owners filed 63 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 1 time.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
8
0
1
0
Air Bags › Frontal
8
7
0
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
1
1
1
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
3
0
0
0
Visibility › Windshield
2
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
2
0
0
0
Unknown or Other
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
1
0
0
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
2
1
0
2
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch98V225001
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE SHIFT LEVER APPEARS TO BE IN "PARK," BUT CAN EASILY BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITHOUT THE USE OF THE KEY, TRANSAXLE LEVER DETENT BUTTON, OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE.
Risk. IF THE SHIFT LEVER WERE TO COME OUT OF "PARK" WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, OWNERS ARE ADVISED WHEN SHIFTING TO "PARK," ALWAYS APPLY THE PARK BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING THE SERVICE BRAKE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 14, 2005IL
THE CONSUMER SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN FROM 65 MPH AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC THEN LOOSENED O RINGS TO STOP THE NOISE AND STALLING, BUT THE NOISE AND THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE STALLING OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP FOR ANY REASON. *AK *SC
Power Train
Filed Jan 5, 2005IL
ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. *TC
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 10, 200419,850 milesNJ
CONSUMER WAS IN A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT OWNER AND WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. CONSUMER EVENTUALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Jan 10, 200442,000 milesPA
I HELPED MY MOTHER IN LAW PURCHASE A NEW 1997 GEO METRO FROM A DEALER IN 1997. I AM DISSATIFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PAINT JOB. THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND APPEARS TO ALSO BE HAPPENING ON THE HOOD. IN ADDITION THE CHROME PAINT HAS WORN OFF THE WHEEL COVERS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR, WASHING , WAXING ETC AS WE HAVE ALL OUR OTHER VEHICLES SO I DON'T BELIEVE IMPROPER MAINTENACE IS THE CAUSE. IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL HELP AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2003GA
STALLING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS.*AK
Unknown or Other
Filed May 6, 2003FL
CIGARETTE LIGHTER WHEN PRESSED IN WILL HURL OUTWARD INTO THE CAR WHEN IT IS HOT. IT HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY UNLESS YOU HOLD ONTO THE LIGHTER. THE CAR HAS HAD THIS DEFECT SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT USED AT A DEALERSHIP, IN 2/ 1999 THE INCIDENT DATE WAS CHOSEN AT RANDOM. *JB
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 6, 200310 milesFL
FRONT DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 13, 2003147,000 milesTX
THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 27, 2003TX
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 21, 2002PA
THE CONSUMER NOTICED A WHEEL HAD COME OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF A TRACTOR TRAILER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEEL SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *JB
Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 30, 2002WV
BROUGHT CAR JULY 11, 2000-DEC. 20,2000-TRANSMISSION REPLACED-AUG. 23, 2002 THROUGH SEPT. 30, 2002-SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON CRANK SENSOR SEAL O-RING REPLACED, BURNING OIL, HAS A SHAKE TO IT WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN, AND ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MR
Parking Brake › Conventional
Filed Aug 9, 2002OH
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND HIT A FENCE, WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT. THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE FENCE AND THE FENCE SCRATCHED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. IT DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER, FRONT LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, VENT SCREEN, LEFT WIPER ARM, RIGHT TO LEFT WIPERS, LIFT GATE, REAR LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE IS 3026.15. *SCC
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock SwitchCrash
Filed Aug 9, 2002OH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE ROLLED, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK, UPROOTED A FENCE, THE TOP OF THE FENCE HIT THE WINDHSIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK, THE FENCE WENT UP OVER THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT, TO THE BACK. I HAVE THE ESTIMATE FROM THE BODY SHOP THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO. I ALSO HAVE WITNESSES THAT SAW THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED.
Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 19, 2002MI
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK *JB
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 25, 2002AZ
AT 35-40MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CONNECTOR AT THE FUEL INJECTOR, THE CONNECTORS CONTACT HAD SLIGHTLY OPENED, CONSUMER CLOSED SOME OF THE CONTACTS AND NOW THE ENGINE RUNS WELL. *SLC
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Aug 14, 2001NV
DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASE, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO REMEDY.*AK
Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jul 3, 2001CA
VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS, BUT NO INJURIES FROM AIRBAGS. CONSUMER WILL ADD VIN TO FORM.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 8, 2001NJ
WHEN PULLING OUT OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER ON A FREQUENT BASIS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH, AND THAT GAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED .*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE AND DISTRIBUTION CAP WERE SPRAYED AND FUEL INJECTION CLEANER WAS USED FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER ALSO STATES A NEW AIR FILTER WAS PUT IN. *JB
Tires
Filed Apr 14, 2001IL
AS CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING FIRESTONE (TUWSPS 15580R13) TIRES, CONSUMER NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD SPIKES OVER AN INCH LONG ALL AROUND THE INSIDE AND THE COLOR AROUND THE PERIMETER IS BROWN/RUST NOT BLACK. *JB
Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 2, 2001MA
WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO UP & DOWN PROPERLY. INTERFERES WITH DOOR REGULATOR. DOOR WOULD JAM. WINDOW TILTS FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. BEEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FIRST TIME. WARRANTY RAN OU. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. EACH TIME REPAIRED PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT COME DOWN.*AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Sep 21, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.